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The Statue of Liberty, on Liberty Island in the New York Harbor, opened in 1886. Served by ferries from New York and New Jersey, the monument is open every day of the year except December 25th. Visitation is highest during the summer months, which makes wait times longer and the already difficult climb to the crown unpleasant. A video presentation in the visitor’s center and ranger-led tours on the island enhance your visit if you choose not to make the climb.

The Pedestal

Museums in the pedestal exhibit how the statue was conceived and constructed. The Statue of Liberty Exhibit, on the second floor of the pedestal, has photographs, videos, displays and oral histories of the building of the Statue of Liberty, her symbolism and importance to the world. Replicas of the foot and face of the statue are on display, and the Torch Exhibit includes the 1886 torch originally held aloft by Lady Liberty. Diagrams, drawings and photographs on display on a balcony overlooking the original torch explain the history of the flame. A plaque inscribed with Emma Lazarus’ 1883 poem, The New Colossus, is on display. An observation deck with a view of New York Harbor is accessible by climbing 192 stairs. Tours of the pedestal are conducted by National Park Service personnel, and Ranger Sam, an animatronic robot, entertains children with history lessons.

Inside

The interior of the structure is a collection of wrought iron rivets, saddles and armature bars that make the statue structurally sound, and a double helix metal staircase is centered among them. Alexander Gustave Eiffel, a structural engineer who later designed the Eiffel Tower for the 1889 Universal Exposition in Paris, was hired to help design the interior tower that supports the statue. The contrast between the sculpted exterior of the monument with the webs of beams and posts of the interior is striking. The climb is strenuous, up tapered stairs that are only 19 inches wide. Clearance is 6 feet 2 inches and children must be at least 4 feet tall to make the climb.

The Head and Crown

While no one is certain this was the sculptor’s intent, the cap on top of Liberty’s head resembles the bonnet that was given to Roman slaves when they were freed. The seven rays on the crown symbolize freedom’s reach to the oceans and continents. Twenty-five windows in the crown evoke shining gemstones. First-time visitors to the crown may be surprised by how small the space is -- only eight to 10 people fit at a time. The view from the crown encompasses lower Manhattan, the rivers and bridges, part of Brooklyn and Staten Island. The wait to make the 354-step, 22-story climb to the State of Liberty’s crown can be as long as three hours, and the statue is closed on very hot days.

The Torch

The torch has been closed to the public since July 30, 1916, when German agents blew up ammunition supplies in Jersey City, NJ, in what came to be known as the Black Tom explosion. Fragments from the explosion hit the Statue of Liberty’s skirt and torch, causing $100,000 in damage. National Park Service staff use a narrow ladder to climb 40 feet into the torch to maintain the floodlights. The gilded torch was refurbished in 1986.

Tickets

Visitors to the monument must take the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Ferry, and while there is no entrance fee to the island, tickets are required for entry into the statue. The cost of a Pedestal ticket is included in the ferry fee, and your ferry ticket will be stamped “pedestal ticket,” but the supply is limited so you must make sure to ask for one. A special ticket is required for the climb to the crown at an additional cost. Security is tight at the departure points in Battery Park and Liberty State Park, and at the statue, so plan to wait to go through security.

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About the Author

Meg Jernigan has been writing for more than 30 years. She specializes in travel, cooking and interior decorating. Her offline credits include copy editing full-length books and creating marketing copy for nonprofit organizations. Jernigan attended George Washington University, majoring in speech and drama.

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